Burnham, who is due to become Britain’s prime minister on July 20, admitted he was blindsided by a funding gap in his predecessor Keir Starmer’s defense investment plan.
Dan Bloom
Groundworks began at the site in Ancoats last month. The government has previously said it will be the workplace for around “8,800 people from multiple government departments with a focus on digital delivery.”
Burnham did not set out a timescale for the creation of “No. 10 North” or discuss how many people it could involve. However, he has said it will be tasked with reforming utilities, regeneration and reindustrializing Britain, centralizing many powers held elsewhere in Whitehall.
In the wide-ranging interview, Burnham also said the whipping system in Westminster should not be used to “punish” MPs and said he would be willing to work with opposition parties to tackle the issue of gangs, many of them in northern towns, grooming and sexually abusing young women.
Burnham has been accused of avoiding scrutiny after he went weeks without giving an extended interview. Even on Thursday, he was a long way from clearing up all questions.
Asked if he would grant a public holiday if England’s soccer team wins the World Cup, Burnham faltered, noting that it would be premature given the tough match looming on Monday against Mexico.
“We only beat … we struggled, let’s say,” he said, a day after England narrowly remained in the tournament by clinching a late 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo thanks to team captain Harry Kane. “I think we might be getting ahead of ourselves.”
